Sustainability

For more information contact

Pip Grant

WHY SUSTAINABILITY is IMPORTANT TO FARMERS IN THE RIVERINE PLAINS

Sustainability in farming businesses is about being here for the long term.

Protecting our resources, including soils, air, water and native flora and fauna, is key to being able to hand over farms to future generations.

Farmers in the Riverine Plains understand that conditions change seasonally and that creating resilient farming systems can improve profitability, productivity and sustainability. Resilient systems can better adapt to changing climatic conditions and can help maximise profit both when times are good and when they become challenging.

Our climate continues to change. Farmers will need to manage more variable rainfall and temperature patterns in the future and adapt and innovate to be economically sustainable.

Farmers in the region have had to learn to grow more crop and pasture yield with less rainfall, and have had to increase the efficiency with which they use fuel, fertiliser and chemicals in response to changing market and seasonal conditions.

Riverine Plains farmers have always been open to adopting new farming practices and technologies that can help them farm more efficiently. The widespread adoption of no-till and stubble retention practices to protect soils and increase moisture retention is a good example of this.

The adoption of new technologies — for example, green-on-green sprayers that can help farmers reduce their chemical and fuel use, as well as precision agriculture techniques for the more efficient targeting of fertiliser — has the potential to drive efficiencies in the system that will improve farm sustainability.

OUR SUSTAINABILITY PROJECTS

Our sustainability-related projects are helping farmers manage complex environmental and climate challenges.

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Companion cropping legumes for lower cost nitrogen supply in farming systems

Riverine Plains is supporting grain growers to enhance soil nitrogen by sowing companion legume crops, such as vetch, alongside non-leguminous grains to reduce the reliance on synthetic fertilisers.
Carbon farming outreach program

This project is part of the National Industry-Led Carbon Farming Outreach Program which is supporting farmers and land managers to reduce emissions and explore carbon farming opportunities.
Building soil carbon through land management strategies

This project supports NSW farmers in the Riverine Plains to explore their soil carbon potential and showcases eligible land management practices best suited for potential soil carbon projects.
Optimising slug management

This project aims to investigate best practice to reduce slug damage in canola using chemical and non-chemical options.
Helping regional communities prepare for drought

We are strengthening drought preparedness through community events, leadership training, and innovative initiatives. Be part of the change, build connections, and shape a sustainable future together.
Technology uptake program

Riverine Plains is working with farmers to increase the uptake of innovative agtech solutions that can drive efficiency and improve sustainability in our local farming systems.
Demonstrating ryegrass control strategies

Ryegrass is a major weed of cropping systems in the Riverine Plains. We are working with farmers, researchers and advisors to reduce the risk of herbicide-resistant ryegrass developing, to prevent significant productivity and profitability losses.
Rewarding soil stewardship

This project is connecting soil scientists, farmers and the finance sector to review the benefits, costs and uncertainties related to different soil stewardship practices, as well as the available returns from different markets and sources.
Cool Soil Initiative

See how we’ve supported farmers to improve their soils, drive efficiency and reduce GHG emissions.
Quantifying the carbon gains from mixed cropping systems

Understanding soil organic carbon and acidity in cropping systems of northeast Victoria.